The expert panel met in March, 2007 and worked for 2.5 days to review and assess the more than 500 scientific BPA-related studies cited in the report. Because of the length and complexity of this evaluation, the panel was unable to complete its review and has scheduled this second meeting to review and revise the draft expert panel report at http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov/evals/bisphenol/BPA_Interim_DraftRpt.pdf(http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov/evals/bisphenol/BPA_Interim_DraftRpt.pdf) and write its summary, conclusions and critical data needs.

August 6, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Time is set aside on the morning of August 6th for oral public comments, limited to seven minutes per speaker or organization)
August 7, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
August 8, 8:00 a.m. – noon
(The expert panel meeting may end earlier or later each day, depending on when the panel completes its deliberations.)

Press Availability: Immediately following the meeting on Wednesday, August 8, 2007.

Members of the media interested in attending the meeting, the press availability immediately following the meeting, or arranging phone interviews with the panel Chair or with CERHR staff, please contact Robin Mackar at (919) 541-0073 or by email at rmackar@niehs.nih.gov.

Where:

Hilton Alexandria Old Town,
1767 King Street, Alexandria, Va. 22314
(located across the street from the King Street Metro Stop)
Tel (703) 837-0440

Why:

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a high production volume chemical used in the production of polycarbonate plastic and several types of resins. Polycarbonate plastics are widely used in a variety of products including food and drink containers, CDs, DVDs, electrical and electronic equipment, automobiles, sports safety equipment. Resins are used as a protective lining in metal food and drink containers and water supply pipes. In vitro and animal data indicate that BPA may mimic the natural female sex hormone, estradiol. Exposure to the general population can occur through direct contact to BPA or by exposure to food or drink that has been in contact with material containing BPA.

The Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR) selected this compound for evaluation because of its high volume of production, widespread human exposure, evidence of reproductive toxicity in animal studies, and public interest and concern.

Background:

The CERHR was established by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) as part of the National Toxicology Program in 1998. Michael Shelby, Ph.D., serves as the CERHR Director. CERHR convenes a scientific expert panel that meets in a public forum to review, discuss, and evaluate the scientific literature on a selected chemical.

CERHR selects chemicals for evaluation based upon several factors including production volume, extent of human exposure, public concern, and the extent of published information from reproductive and developmental toxicity studies. The NTP is a Department of Health and Human Services program established in 1978. It is headquartered at the NIEHS, a part of the National Institutes of Health. The NIEHS Director, David A. Schwartz, M.D., serves as the NTP Director.

NIEHS supports research to understand the effects of the environment on human health and is part of NIH. For more information on environmental health topics, visit http://www.niehs.nih.gov (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/index.cfm) . Subscribe to one or more of the NIEHS news lists ( http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newslist/index.cfm (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsroom/newslist/index.cfm) ) to stay current on NIEHS news, press releases, grant opportunities, training, events, and publications.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov (http://www.nih.gov/).